UK gas demand drops to six year low

UK gas demand has dropped to a six year low – but consumers aren’t feeling the benefit, according to analysts.

Despite gas demand hitting 155Million cubic metres (McM) at the end of July, compared with last year’s summer average of 223McM, prices haven’t dropped at the same rate.

Analyst Gary Hornby at energy consultancy Inenco said prices haven’t fallen in line because of concerns over supply.

He said: “Despite the low demand the system has been undersupplied a few times so far in summer. The Day-Ahead price hasn’t fallen lower with demand because of all the supply concerns at the moment and is at similar levels to last year.”

Japan’s appetite for gas after the loss of its nuclear plants because of Fukushima as well as some problems with North Sea platforms were contributing to this, suggested Mr Hornby.

“The main reasons for the supply problems are low LNG output (all the boats are still on their way to Japan and the rest of Asia), loss of the Elgin-Franklin platform (approximately 6% of summer supply lost from that platform alone), and lower UK gas production with dwindling reserves and a heavy maintenance period,” he said.

Thats a 30% reduction in demand and not just the UK is it? With all the signs are of a mild winter to come suppliers are worried.

With most economies shrinking and energy demand in concert why are we so surprised that trite justifications are being rolled out for what is blatant market manipulation? Were this report to be taken seriously, rather more data ought to have been provided and no reliance on some analyst poking a finger in the air to gauge wind strength and direction.